Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1887-11-09
AN OLD MULES FALL

Ho Crashes Headforemost Into q Well, Es
Hauled Out, and Put to Work.
The ines is authority for the statement
that Philip Donaghy's big mule created
more excitement down in the Twenty-sixth
ward of Philadelphia the other day than that
usually quiet neighborhood has known since
the day, away back in the summer Of IS,
when Widow Brady's goat fell in sewer
and seriously injured two boys from Web
ster's brick-yard who were foolhardy
enough to go into the sewer to help the goat
out The goat was rescued unhurt. and
from that time the story of his miraculous
escape has been the chief topic of CONVEX
sation among the local toughs, sporting men
and small boys in general, until the other
day, when ''Jerry," a long, lank, tan-col-
ored mule, Owed down well forty feet
deep and stood on his head at the bottom
until he was drawn up by means of a der
rick, with only few scratches to tell the
tale. - d
The startling event happened just back of
Long lane. jerry was driven by Jimmy
Dougherty, d squint-eyed youth, whose face
IS frecllled by the suns Of seventeen sum-
mers. Dougherty's route lay from the
brick-yard to a trian gular strip of land situ-
ated between Long lane and Twenty-frst
street. On the central portion Of this land
is an old well, now dry, forty feet deep,
with a brick-Hned circumference. The top
Is covered with, boards. At noon jerry.
plotted by Dougherty, landed load of
bricks at their proper destination near by
The youth then proceeded to unhitch Jerry.
preparatory to feeding him. When the cart
was detached Jimmy walked across the
treacherous boards and war-scarred Jerry
attempted to follow. AS he planted his
front feet on the thin boards they suddenly
gave way with terrific crash and down
the mule went, head first, with frightful
rapidity, before the eyes of the astonished
boy. The descent was accompanied by an
unpleasant sound, caused by the friction of
the mules back against the rough surface
of the impressed bricks. Finally his head
collided with the bottom Then followed
series of the sfran gest sounds the neighbor-
hood had sheard for many day. Jerry
snOrted and beloved and danced clog on
the side of the well, all at the same time,
while above the terrified driver called Loud
ly for help. 80 ~ q
The news spread like wildare. People
squares away heard the commotion and
rushed to the spot. A crowd soon gathered.
Alleges peered anNi0usiy down the dark
hole whence the horrible sounds enannted.
A derrick was procured and fitted up with
strong ropes. Then one of the workmen
was slowly lowered into the cavity. He
carried q small lantern, and the excited
spectators held their breath as the light
sank lower, until it reflected the glitter of
the shoes on the mules hind feet. At the
peril OF his Life the daring man fastened q
rope around the animals hind legs He
gave the signal and the derrick was started.
As the crank reyolyed the muie'ssstruggles
increased The machinery groa1ad under
the strain, put the rope held fast, and at
exactly 1916 p N the animals tail madas
its appearance amid tremendous enthust.l
asm Jerry was working at two o'clock the
same afternoon.